congrats!
Posted by: RavenWing on Aug-16-12 3:30 PM (EST)
that's a fine pick given your priorities.
Late to this thread (good discussion, too) but have paddled all three of the boats which were in play earlier (Avocet LV, Tiderace XciteS and Pilgrim).
They're much more alike to each other than different. All pleasant to paddle, mobile and fun, great for rolling and other skills... but none of them would have given you the speed over distance you were after, esp as a former owner of the NDK Greenlander and Greenlander Prol
That would be asking a lot of any highly rockered British style seakayak in the 16 foot range. It's just not where they excel.
I agree w. suiram that the Pilgrim Expedition, and the Tiderace ExploreS would be significantly more interesting to you, and you picked the latter. Many happy miles in your new boat...